MANILA, Philippines — Nine people who allegedly amassed P40 million from their vishing or voice phishing activities were arrested by operatives of the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in Cavite on Wednesday night. Armed with two warrants to search, seize and examine computer data, police raided areas in General Trias and Trece Martires City at around 9 p.m., according to ACG chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga.
The target of the operations was a woman identified only as Apol, 34, who is allegedly involved in computer-related fraud.
Aside from Apol, the ACG team arrested eight other people and seized from them several SIM or subscriber identity module cards, information and communication devices, bank documents and scripts that the group used to dupe their victims.
Col. Jay Guillermo, chief of the ACG cyber response unit, said the suspects – who are in their 30s – posed as bank employees when contacting their victims including pensioners, retirees and even judges to obtain their personal information.
He said the group used the information to access and siphon money from the victims’ bank accounts.
Guillermo said the ACG had been monitoring the group since November.
He said the suspects had been raking in an average of P4 million per month, or a total of about P40 million before they were arrested.
Charges of violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act and economic sabotage would be filed against the suspects, police said.– Ed Amoroso
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